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$49/
Per PersonThe Pekoe Trail is a 22-stage journey covering sim 300 km. Every stage is a unique hike, classified by difficulty, and can be booked individually or combined into multi-day itineraries. Use this guide to select your perfect segment based on Location, Distance, and Challenge Level.
How It Works:
- Select Your region : Choose the region that appeals most to you (Kandy, Hatton, Ella, etc.).
- Review the Stages: Check the Difficulty and Duration to match your fitness and schedule.
- Book Your Experience: Pick one or more stages, and we will arrange the guide, transfers, and accommodation for a seamless adventure.
MODULE 1: THE KANDY GATEWAY (Stages 1-5)
The historic start of the tea journey, blending cultural sites with challenging ascents near the island’s cultural capital.
Stage 1: Hanthana to Galaha
A scenic and gentle introduction to the tea-covered highlands.
- Distance/Time: 12.84 km / sim 4 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highlights: Starts with a gentle ascent through Hanthana Tea Estate. Offers sweeping views of Kandy, the Knuckles range, and passes film-set locations (Indiana Jones).
Stage 2: Galaha to Loolkandura
A climb into deep plantation country, leading to Sri Lanka’s tea origin.
- Distance/Time: sim 14.7 km /sim 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Challenging (Steep Sections)
- Highlights: Climbs through narrow, forested tracks and plantation paths. Features the historic Deltota stretch and the location of the island’s first cultivated tea.
Stage 3: Loolkandura to Tawalantenna
A long and undulating trek through the heart of the estates.
- Distance/Time: sim 18.11 km / sim 5-6 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: This long stretch navigates between estate ridges, small forest patches, and undulating terrain, requiring good stamina.
Stage 4: Tawalantenna to Pundaluoya
Weaving through estates and quiet rural forest edges.
- Distance/Time: sim 15.53 km / sim 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: Trails weave through tea estates, forest edges, and remote rural sections. Expect some narrow or overgrown portions.
Stage 5: Pundaluoya to Watagoda
A balanced stage blending plantation life and natural paths.
- Distance/Time: sim 14.31 km / sim 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Follows plantation and estate tracks with rural paths. Features moderate climbs and descents, making it a good transition stage.
MODULE 2: THE HATTON VALLEYS (Stages 6-10)
Deep tea country trekking, connecting the iconic Maskeliya and Bogawantalawa valleys to the high plateau.
Stage 6: Watagoda to Kotagala
A scenic trek through tea fields and forest boundaries.
- Distance/Time: sim 15.53 km / sim 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Traverses classic tea fields and forest edges, primarily utilizing plantation roads with gentle gradients.
Stage 7: Kotagala to Norwood
Following historic colonial routes with panoramic valley views.
- Distance/Time: sim 16.48 km / sim 5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Passes through well-maintained colonial estate roads and includes views across expansive valleys, passing old factory ruins.
Stage 8: Norwood to Bogawantalawa
Climbing high for spectacular views of the Maskeliya region.
- Distance/Time: sim 15.85 km / sim 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Rewarding ridge climbs provide exceptional views into the Maskeliya Valley, followed by a descent through lush estates.
Stage 9: Bogawantalawa to Dayagama
The transition stage toward the highest elevations.
- Distance/Time: sim 16.52 km / sim 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Crosses between wide highland plantations and forest patches, marking the visible transition into the higher, rugged Horton Plains region.
Stage 10: Dayagama to Horton Plains (Farr Inn)
The final, scenic approach to the high-altitude wilderness.
- Distance/Time: sim 14.88 km / sim 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: The challenging final approach into high-elevation country, entering the protected, visually stunning Horton Plains area.
MODULE 3: HAPUTALE & ELLA ICONS (Stages 11-16)
From high plateau descents and remote valleys to the famous Ella viewpoints, including the iconic railway tracks.
Stage 11: Horton Plains to Udaweriya
A rugged descent through remote factory country.
- Distance/Time: 13.0 km / sim 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Starts at Farr Inn and features the dramatic descent via “Devil’s Staircase,” passing remote valleys and old tea-factory ruins.
Stage 12: Udaweriya to Haputale
A long and demanding stage with significant altitude change.
- Distance/Time: sim 17.32 km / sim 6 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: The longest stage in this module, it involves steep segments through forest and estates to reach the famous misty ridge town of Haputale.
Stage 13: Haputale to St. Catherine
Views open up across the tea country towards the southern plains.
- Distance/Time: sim 13.48 km / sim 5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Opens up panoramic vistas, leading you into the area of the legendary Lipton’s Seat viewpoint.
Stage 14: St. Catherine to Makulella
A scenic downhill trek with views of Namunukula.
- Distance/Time: sim 9.36 km / sim 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Mostly downhill, traversing eucalyptus forests and tea fields. Offers clear views of the “Nine Peaks” (Namunukula) mountain range.
Stage 15: Makulella to Ella
Entering the scenic hill country around the famous town of Ella.
- Distance/Time: sim 9.61 km / sim 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Passes through plantations and forest patches around Ella Rock, with scenic climbs and descents into the town.
Stage 16: Ella to Demodara
The most popular stage, featuring the iconic railway landmark.
- Distance/Time: sim 8.7 km / sim 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Highlights: Includes the stunning walk over the Nine Arches Bridge, with easy-going forest tracks and plantation routes.
MODULE 4: EASTERN TRAILS & FINALE (Stages 17-22)
Quieter segments, high-altitude climbs, and the colonial charm of the trail’s terminus, Nuwara Eliya.
Stage 17: Demodara to Hali-Ela
A pleasant trail with rewarding views through remote plantations.
- Distance/Time: sim 13.15 km / sim 3-4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: A mix of climbing and descending through quiet, expansive plantations, offering a tranquil trekking experience.
Stage 18: Hali-Ela to Ettampitiya
Ascending from lower villages back into the tea estates.
- Distance/Time: sim 13.67 km / sim 3-4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Climbs from lower elevations into the core tea estates, ending with a steep final segment to reach a hilltop factory.
Stage 19: Ettampitiya to Lunuwatte
A lengthy and remote section through diverse countryside.
- Distance/Time: sim 18.87 km / sim 5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: One of the longest stages; gently descends to the Uma Oya river, then crosses quiet rural paths and mixed estates.
Stage 20: Lunuwatte to Uda Pussellawa
Ascending through the eucalyptus and pine forests.
- Distance/Time: sim 12.58 km / sim 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Begins on a village road and ascends via zig-zag paths into striking eucalyptus and pine forest, with a balanced uphill/downhill gradient.
Stage 21: Uda Pussellawa to Kandapola
A long, high-altitude stage and one of the toughest connectors.
- Distance/Time: sim 16.70 km / sim 5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Highlights: A longer, challenging stage through high-altitude tea country, remote forest, and rugged rural tracks, requiring high endurance.
Stage 22: Kandapola to Pedro (Nuwara Eliya)
The beautiful final stage into “Little England.”
- Distance/Time: 10.80 km / sim 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: The final push through immaculate estate tracks and high-country scenery, ending your epic journey near the charming town of Nuwara Eliya.
Included and Excluded
- Expert Adventure Guide (Certified Pekoe Trail Specialist).
- All Internal Transfers (Including Scenic Train Ride Segments).
- Accommodation (Your choice of Basic, Standard, or Luxury Tea Bungalows).
- Daily Breakfast & Dinner (B&D).
- National Park Entrance Fees (e.g., Horton Plains).
- First Aid Support & Trail Safety Gear.
- International Flights & Visa Fees.
- Lunch (We recommend packed lunches for trail flexibility).
- Personal Travel Insurance.
- Tips for Guides and Drivers.
- Entrance to the Ceylon Tea Museum.
Highlights of the Tour
- Complete 22 Stages of the world-renowned Pekoe Trail.
- Trek through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Horton Plains (World's End).
- Witness the sunrise from Lipton's Seat.
- Walk the railway tracks over the Nine Arches Bridge.
- Experience the authentic life of tea estate communities.
- Summit near Kirigalpotta Peak (Optional Technical Extension).
Location Map
Frequently Asked & Question
The trail is a mix of difficulty. Stages near Ella are generally Easy to Moderate, while those in the Hatton and Haputale areas can be Difficult due to steep inclines, uneven terrain, and high altitude. We classify each daily stage individually.
While the trail is marked, we strongly recommend a certified guide, especially for the remote central stages. Our guides provide essential safety, navigation, local knowledge, and cultural context (e.g., translating with tea pickers).
The ideal time is from January to March when the central highlands are driest. However, the region is beautiful year-round. Expect rain and mist during the two monsoon seasons (May to July and October to December), which adds a magical atmosphere but requires extra caution.
Accommodation ranges from basic, community-run guesthouses (supporting local families) to charming, historic Tea Estate Bungalows and boutique hotels in the main towns. We can customize your package to suit your budget and style.
Absolutely. Several lower-elevation stages and the main estate roads near Hatton and Nuwara Eliya are excellent for mountain biking. We can arrange quality rental bikes and incorporate cycling days into your itinerary.
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